Carlos Tevez has risked further and severe disciplinary action by Manchester City after failing to travel from Argentina for scheduled talks with his club yesterday. There is no indication as to when the striker does plan to return to England.

Tevez travelled to his family home in Buenos Aires without City's permission last week, in the latest chapter of an increasingly fractious situation. City demanded that their former captain returned for talks with club officials at their training ground yesterday. Not only did Tevez fail to appear, no timescale has been offered for his return. City have refused to comment on Tevez's latest actions in an attempt to avoid what a spokesman for the club said could become a "counter-briefing scenario".

It is known, however, that the Premier League leaders were already taking the advice of lawyers and considering handing their player a club-record fine before his non-appearance yesterday. A previous, four-week sanction imposed on Tevez was reduced after the interventions of the Professional Footballers' Association. The PFA also refused to comment on Tevez's decision to remain in Argentina.

The Tevez camp claimed yesterday that they were unaware of further disciplinary proceedings. They also distanced themselves - for the time being - from a radio report in Argentina that said Tevez would send a medical certificate to City in a bid to explain his absence. A source close to Tevez said it was "incredibly premature" to consider the possibility of the striker's contract being terminated before the transfer window reopens.

Tevez's representatives and City's officials held a series of weekend discussions about the situation. All parties are believed to agree that a January move for the striker away from his current club is the preferred scenario. How such a transfer would come about, though, is difficult to envisage, as City show no signs of backing down from Tevez's earlier value of £40m.

Boca Juniors, one of the clubs linked with a move for Tevez, have said they do not have the funds to sign him. Tevez was afforded hero status during an earlier spell at Boca. Yet Jorge Amor Ameal, the Boca president, said: "Carlos is deservedly a very important figure here. But from the economic point it is impossible. I did talk to him and I lent him our support."

Reports in Italy said Milan may be ready to join their city rivals, Internazionale, in monitoring Tevez's situation.

Relations between Tevez and City have deteriorated sharply since the now infamous Champions League game at Bayern Munich in September. The club claimed Tevez refused to appear as a substitute; the player pointed to a "misunderstanding" that led to him not warming up.